THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
UK, 1974, 125 minutes, Colour.
Roger Moore, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland, Maud Adams, Herve Villechaize, Clifton James, Richard Loo, Soon- Tek Oh, Marc Lawrence, Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell, Marne Maitland, Desmond Llewelyn, James Cossins.
Directed by Guy Hamilton.
The Man with the Golden Gun is the second of Roger Moore’s films as James Bond. His first, in the previous year, was Live and Let Die. (This film featured Clifton James as a redneck so popular that he was given a cameo in this film.)
The film was directed by Guy Hamilton who made Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever, Live and Let Die.
The plot of this film is perhaps the slightest all the James Bond stories. It is principally a confrontation between millionaire assassin, Scaramanga, played with expert precision by Christopher Lee, and James Bond. In fact, the opening sets the theme with a visiting killer playing cat and mouse in a kind of fairground show with Scaramanga. And, at the end, this is where the confrontation between Scaramanga and Bond takes place. Everything is overseen by Scaramanga’s assistant, Nick Nack, played by Herve Villechaize who appeared in Fantasy Island, which began production three years after this film.
While there is some subplot about the gathering of solar energy and being able to sell it to powers around the world, along with a huge plant on an island beyond Macau which blows up at the end after some strict timing and some accidents from Miss Goodnight (Brit Ekland), the main focus is on the confrontation between the two men.
All the usual people are in attendance, M, Miss Moneypenny, Q. and there are a range of locations in a club in Beirut as well as Hong Kong. The score is by John Barry and Lulu sings the title song.
1. An entertaining James Bond film? Less global scope than the other films? The confrontation between Scaramanga and Bond?
2. Roger Moore as Bond, the second film in this role? The characteristics he brought to Bond? suave manner, the touch of ruthlessness, even in his dealings with women, intelligence, fighting ability?
3. Scaramanga, Christopher Lee, his style, voice and tone? Hired assassin, his carnival background, his charging $1 million, commissioning golden bullets for his golden gun, his women and pressure? The initial confrontation with the assassin? Nick Nack as his servant, manipulating the game, his victory, the image of Bond, wanting to kill him in a duel? His killing the solar power academic? In Hong Kong, in Bangkok, Bond’s visit pretending to be him, following him, Bond landing on the island, Miss Goodnight, using her? Capturing Bond, good manners at the dinner table, the explanation of solar power, the duel, his misinterpretation of the cutout of Bond and his death?
4. The women in the film, the belly dancer in Beirut and the link with 002, Scaramanga’s lover, at the casino, Bond confronting her about the bullets, her role on the island? Miss Goodnight and the past with Bond, the present, the ending? Miss Moneypenny and the flirting?
5. The British authorities, M and his contacting Bond, Miss Moneypenny, Q, the British officials? The sunken boat in Hong Kong and its being used as headquarters?
6. The Hong Kong policeman, resting Bond, taking him to the ship, accompaniment?
7. The villain in Bangkok, solar power, the link with Scaramanga, with Bond?
8. The more personal story about Bond rather than international action?
